With their club in the thick of the mix for promotion to the Championship, Ryan and Baldwin have already set to work on nailing down Saunders’ successor.

And with a trip to face play-off hopefuls Stevenage looming on Saturday they could make an official approach to speak to Lomas this week.

The Northern Irishman, 38, clinched a place in the Europa League qualifiers for Saints last season and currently has them sitting just four points behind second-placed Inverness in the SPL.

But Lomas has had a bumpy relationship with chairman Steve Brown since moving to Perth a year ago and, with only one more season to go on his contract, is likely to be interested in hearing what Doncaster have to say.